FILIPPO GRANDI

Commissioner-General of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East

The declarations adopted at recent BRICS sessions (Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa) have repeatedly made a strong and compelling call for global action on humanitarian assistance and development. The final communique of the summit refers to an alliance formed on the basis of a vision of a common goal and a strong desire to achieve peace and security, and striving to make a significant contribution to the development of humanity and the creation of a more equal and just world. The summit participants expressed their strong commitment to the work of the United Nations, which "has a central role to play in countering global challenges and threats" so that countries "achieve peace, stability, prosperity and progress and take their rightful place in the world in accordance with the legitimate aspirations of their peoples"*. It should be noted that this communique was issued following the summit at which South Africa officially joined the BRICS countries - a country whose modern image was created in the struggle for justice, equality and participation of all its inhabitants in the life of the country.

Tellingly, the BRICS summit participants expressed their "deep concern over the unstable situation in the Middle East", and at this time the so-called "Arab Spring" has already begun its march through the countries of the region. Millions of people took to the streets to demand political and economic participation in their countries, social justice, and an end to decades of poverty and inequality. The simultaneous nature of these two events - the Arab Spring and the adoption of the BRICS global action Plan - is reflected in the work of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA), which has been working with the most disadvantaged communities in the Middle East for 63 years, providing services to Palestine refugees and protecting their rights.

UNRWA was established in 1949 and began its field mandate in 1950. The Agency implements programs in the Gaza Strip, Jordan, Lebanon, Syria and the West Bank,

* http://russian.cri.cn/841/2011/04/14/1s378325.htm

providing assistance to the estimated five million Palestinian refugees who voluntarily or forcibly left their homes as a result of the 1948-1949 Arab - Israeli conflict, and their descendants. Having lost their homes, the refugees found shelter in tent cities, which have now turned into settlements with squalid shacks, many of which are not able to later become settlements and give their inhabitants the opportunity to develop.

Of particular concern is the fact that these people are deprived of hope, where economic vulnerability, fragile social status and political marginalization are acutely felt. However, our job is to provide them with humanitarian assistance and human development opportunities, and it is up to political actors to help achieve lasting peace in the region, including a just solution to the refugee problem. Therefore, while the international community is waiting for a peaceful solution to the fate of refugees based on the norms of international law and UN resolutions, the General Assembly has authorized UNRWA to carry out its task, which largely echoes the recently announced concept of the BRICS countries.

The UNRWA network of primary and preparatory schools provides refugees with broad access to basic education, often even in times of conflict, thus providing a vital springboard to higher education. Currently, about 20 thousand teachers work under our auspices in the region, teaching half a million children in almost 700 schools. Vocational training centers annually provide thousands of young people with knowledge and skills that are in demand in the labor market, increasing their ability to find a job. Specialized teacher training colleges help the agency implement and increase the coverage of its educational programs in the face of an unprecedented demand for them and an increase in the number of school-age children.

The most well-known of all UNRWA's educational initiatives is the "Human Rights Awareness, Conflict Resolution and Tolerance Promotion Project", which has been in existence for more than a decade. This project promotes the ideas of nonviolence, social cohesion, conflict resolution and respect for human rights. This initiative aims to make refugee children and youth aware of or feel the need to maintain civic values, understand the role of culture, history and diversity, and enable them to make a positive contribution to the development of their society as adults. In the Gaza Strip, for example, classes with children are based on case studies of human rights issues, such as Mahatma Gandhi's nonviolent struggle for justice and the elimination of apartheid in South Africa.

Our microfinance grant projects have saved thousands of people from poverty and enabled them to start a life where they are not dependent on aid. At the same time, emergency food and employment programs help mitigate the effects of conflict and the harsh conditions in which we often have to work. In the West Bank and the Gaza Strip, where the occupation and blockade threaten to exacerbate already serious social exclusion, recipients of our aid are finding some hope for a decent future. The "Engage Youth" program, which was launched even before the current events, has made great progress in combating youth unemployment and social exclusion. Currently, about 15 thousand young people directly benefit from participating in this program, which offers professional training, promotes entrepreneurship development in cooperation with the private sector.

The BRICS countries understand the value of working with UNRWA and the opportunities we offer to achieve their global goals. I welcome the recent allocation of funds by the Brazilian Government for the agency's activities, express my gratitude to China, India and South Africa, which have provided funds for UNRWA's activities over the years, and look forward to deepening cooperation with all BRICS countries. As the international community continues to voice its concerns about instability in the Middle East, and demographic growth is taking on an alarming trend, this kind of cooperation is now more important than ever. It is estimated that the number of registered UNRWA refugees aged 15-29 will increase by more than 1.5 million, or 6%, by 2020. The highest rates are expected to be in the Gaza Strip.

The growth of youth in the Middle East should serve as a reminder to us as we prepare for future humanitarian and development assistance. UNRWA has repeatedly reaffirmed its commitment to working for young refugees, making this a top priority this year. And this is not a mere formality. It's time to act. Together with our partners - the BRICS Group members and other countries-we will implement this most important global task. With its historic role in providing assistance to Palestine refugees, coupled with its unprecedented work with young people in the society in which it exists in the Middle East, UNRWA offers the international community an incredibly effective collaboration to engage young people in a region with a complex and changing situation while we wait for political solutions. Together with its partners, UNRWA supports future youth who choose innovation, entrepreneurship, and promise to achieve a decent life and prosperity in the face of instability.